Tafsir Ibn Kathir -> Surah Al-Kahf -> Examples put forth in the Qur'an

Allah says, `In this Qur'an, We have explained to mankind and given clear details of matters so that they will not stray from the truth or be misled from the path of guidance. Despite this explanation, man is very quarrelsome and opposes truth with falsehood,' except for those whom Allah guides to the path of salvation. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Ali bin Abi Talib said that the Messenger of Allah came to visit him and Fatimah, the daughter of Allah's Messenger at night, and said,

«أَلَا تُصَلِّيَانِ؟»

(Are you not going to pray) I said, "O Messenger of Allah, our souls are in the Hand of Allah. If He wills to wake us, He will wake us.'' When I said that, he went away without returning. Then I heard him as he was walking away, slapping his thigh and saying,

﴿وَكَانَ الإِنْسَـنُ أَكْثَرَ شَىءٍ جَدَلاً﴾

(But, man is ever more quarrelsome than anything.)'' It was also recorded in the Two Sahihs.

﴿وَمَا مَنَعَ النَّاسَ أَن يُؤْمِنُواْ إِذْ جَآءَهُمُ الْهُدَى وَيَسْتَغْفِرُواْ رَبَّهُمْ إِلاَّ أَن تَأْتِيَهُمْ سُنَّةُ الاٌّوَّلِينَ أَوْ يَأْتِيَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ قُبُلاً - وَمَا نُرْسِلُ الْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلاَّ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ وَيُجَـدِلُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِالْبَـطِلِ لِيُدْحِضُواْ بِهِ الْحَقَّ وَاتَّخَذُواْ ءايَاتِى وَمَا أُنْذِرُواْ هُزُواً ﴾

(55. And nothing prevents men from believing, while the guidance has come to them, and from asking forgiveness of their Lord, except that the ways of the ancients be repeated with them, or the torment be brought to them face to face.) (56. And We send not the Messengers except as bearers of good news and warners. But those who disbelieve, argue with falsehood, in order to refute the truth thereby. And they take My Ayat and that which they are warned for jest!)